[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 92 (Friday, July 15, 1994)]
[House]
[Page H]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: July 15, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                      ABSENCE OF SENATOR COVERDELL

  Mr. DOLE. Madam President, our colleague from Georgia, Senator 
Coverdell, is unable to be with us in the Senate Chamber today. He has 
returned to his State on official business, to be with his constituents 
who have been impacted by the heavy rain and severe flooding as a 
result of tropical storm Alberto.
  This 10-day-old disaster has already taken 31 lives, forced 40,000 
people from their homes, placed 43 counties under emergency 
declaration, resulting in the loss of water to 400,000 residences and 
impacted over 6,000 bridges. Early damage estimates exceed $60 million. 
While the waters are starting to recede, the long cleanup and 
rebuilding process has only just begun.
  Before leaving the Chamber last evening, Senator Coverdell shared 
with me the horrendous devastation he witnessed when touring the 
disaster area with President Clinton on Wednesday.
  On his behalf, I wish to clarify for the record his necessary absence 
from the Senate both today and last Wednesday when he was unable to be 
here for the second cloture vote on the striker replacement bill. His 
absence did not affect the outcome of the vote and his position on this 
measure is reflected in the first cloture vote we cast a day earlier.
  Many of our colleagues have personally experienced the horror of 
natural disasters of this proportion. On behalf of myself and all of my 
colleagues, I wish to extend our support to Senator Coverdell and our 
deepest sympathies to the families and friends who lost their loved 
ones during this disaster, and to all of those who have suffered during 
this disaster, and to all the voluntary organizations that are there 
aiding and assisting the people of Georgia and other areas hard hit by 
this particular disaster.
  I think everyone would agree that when a disaster like this strikes, 
obviously, we understand the necessary absence of any of our 
colleagues. I wanted to reflect that on behalf of Senator Coverdell.

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